Freedom Time: Touching History Institute on February 5, 2013

Teaching Teachers to Present Tough Issues | January 25, 2013

On February 5, Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati will bring Freedom Time: Touching History Institute to the Conaton Board Room on Xavier’s campus for a day-long institute for 60 student educators from UC and 60 from Xavier.

At 7:00 that evening in Xavier’s Conaton Learning Commons room 412 the public is invited to a free dynamic one-hour presentation and discussion of slavery and the Underground Railroad movement in this region by two founders of the National Underground Railroad Museum, Inc. in Maysville, KY, who have taught and traveled extensively. In addition, the evening will feature a one-woman performance about human trafficking by Xavier student Jessica Howenstine. Marian Spencer, former vice mayor of Cincinnati, will share the story of her slave ancestry, and the Xavier Gospel Choir will perform.

At the end of the program people may stay for a special activity.

Richard Hamilton, staff scientist for the Cincinnati Observatory since 2003, will speak briefly about the North Star which features prominently in Underground Railroad lore. It is the only star in the evening sky that never moves and always points north. Hamilton will use a computer program to show what the sky looks like over a cloudless Cincinnati on February 5. After 10 minutes, weather permitting, he will take attendees outside and use a green laser to point out the North Star, the Big Dipper, and other constellations that helped orient and direct runaway slaves. Electric candles will be delivered around campus on Jan. 29 for students to place in their residence hall windows to resemble those in safe houses along the Underground Railroad.